&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&"When all government...in little as in great things, shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power, it will render powerless the checks provided...” Thomas Jefferson&&&&"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have. The course of history shows us that as a government grows, liberty decreases." — Thomas Jefferson&&&&&&&&We're not old men.We don't bother about petty morals--Keef&&&&Actually, it only takes one drink to get me loaded. Trouble is, I can't remember if it's the thirteenth or fourteenth. &&-- George Burns&&&&&&I ain't no leftist!-Bob Dylan&&&&"In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a brave and scarce

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andrews27

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Wake up Bowie or we all through!!

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Re: RIP Chuck BerryReply #13 - Mar 18th, 2017 at 7:49pm

I met Chuck Berry in January 1980 at Heat, a long since-defunct club in a warehouse on the lower west side of Manhattan, near the Hudson River docks. The streets outside were all of cobblestone and had ancient trolley tracks inlaid, the lines filled with white ice. Chuck had just gotten out of prison for tax evasion and was barnstorming the US to raise some cash.

Chuck's sets were advertised for 10:00 PM and midnight. The opening act was Sylvain Sylvain from the New York Dolls with his new band, who weren't very interesting. That was over at 10:30, and Chuck didn't come on until after 1:00 AM. I had been there since around eight o'clock, and didn't want to give up my spot at the edge of the stage to go urinate, though by the time Chuck's first set ended, I needed to badly.

So I'm in the men's room alone and had just finished up, when behind me I hear a door creak like in a haunted house. I turn around and Chuck walks in through a private door that I hadn't noticed. It's wild that he didn't have a toilet in his dressing room, but that was warehouse space nightlife, and there may not have been a dressing room, even.

He was dressed all in red, suit and shirt. There was nothing for us to do but eyeball each other.

I could have cried.

"Chuck!" I blurted, "Thank you! We all owe you so much! Everybody in rock 'n' roll does!" I swear, I stopped just short of saying, All white people do!

"Far out!" Chuck said, happily. He made like to slap my hand, and I duly accepted his five.

"Be cool," Chuck concluded. I've always wished I had taken his advice.

I stayed for the second show and fought my way to another spot at the front, farther away from Chuck than I had been for the first show. A few songs in, Chuck saw me down there and bopped his way over. I no longer remember what song it was, but he leaned over close to me and played the solo right into my face. His hair (I had been surprised to see) was frizzed out and grey, not dyed and slicked, and blue and purple stage lights gleamed off the tips. He dropped sweat all over me. I was the literary type: Jesus Christ, I thought, This is like being fucked by Frederick Douglass!

When Chuck finished the song, he handed me the pick. I was surprised to see it was a heavy-gauge, opaque grey model, quite ordinary. Maybe I expected it to light up, or something. I still have it, tucked inside David Johansen's harmonica case, along with Bo Diddley's broken bottom E-string, which was handed to me from a different stage years later. (I got to talk to Bo that night, too. I'm like that.)

By the time Chuck finished his second set, which had started about 3:30 AM, there were no cabs to be had. I walked back across the frozen west side and made it to my NYU dorm room at about a quarter to six. That was the start of my second semester.

I thought I was tired then, but I'm really tired now.

Jesus Christ, we are fucked by Father Time. Rest in peace, Chuck. That was 37 years ago.

"The best thing to be is bisexual, then you got a shot at everybody." -Rodney Dangerfield

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Steel Wheels

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Much love and support to my dear friend Mary!

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Re: RIP Chuck BerryReply #15 - Mar 18th, 2017 at 8:34pm

I was a kid who listened to the Beatles and Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix. Those artists lead me to the true King of Rock and Roll, Mr. Chuck Berry.

All of the greatest riffs come from Chuck. At any time of day, put a Chuck record on, and the party has started. If you are behind the wheel, you drive faster. If you are on the dance floor, your moves become better! That locomotive quality to his playing is purely genius. The man was an epic performer, singer, songwriter and guitarist.

I was very much looking forward to any press he was going to grant during the build up to his new record, due sometime this year.

My Sunday will be spent listening to his great music, the music that really did change the entire world.

Sad news, although at 90 years of age, it was only a matter of time, I suppose.

His contribution to rock n roll is incalculable. No Chuck = No Stones and No Beatles.

You cant even begin to imagine what rock 'n' roll would sound like had he never existed.

RIP Chuck.

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It is a sad day indeed. I mean .. like you .. I knew these things (and this) was gonna be sooner or later but still .. it is actualluy 'sad' to me .. sad in a real way .. unlike the passing of other celebs I never knew personally.

"He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man." Dr. Johnson.

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Miss_You

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Miss You, I Wanna Kiss You!

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Re: RIP Chuck BerryReply #22 - Mar 19th, 2017 at 8:42am

True Rock n Roll legend. RIP Mr Chuck Berry. We were playing 'Johnny B Goode' on jukebox down the pub last night, but did'nt see the news till we got home. He inspired so many musicians. Never see his like again xx